TILE, TILE WHERE CAN YOU BE???? THERE IT IS, THERE IT IS! THANKS CMMB!!!!

The tile floor...Alas, my biggest impediment to finishing the rehab room. There are a huge string of synchronicities that are not short of a miracle in regards to this PT room. I had actually looked at and picked out tile for the floor back in December of 2010. It had to be NON SKID when wet. Fr Henry also said it had to be Italian or Spanish so that it would hold up over time and not cost more in repairs in the future. I found one...it was PERFECT....but waaay too expensive for me to afford, costing $1,800.00 USD for the tile alone, not to mention the $400.00 USD plus installation fee.

In the truck with Julius on the way to
GET THE TILE! 

I tried everything from begging the tile people on my knees to reduce the price, to asking Fr Henry if MOP could go 50/50 on it with me. Neither was an option. Fr Raymond said, "just paint it". The floor was chipping and stained. It would need to be replaced in the next year anyway. I just couldn't see spending money on paint when tile would still be needed within a year. Fr Henry said he could tile it when he re-did the floors at Busega but this could be anywhere from a year to 4 and wouldn't be the non skid kind (they can't afford it either) UGH!

picking it up! 

I went off to research paint. Turns out this was VERY expensive as well. The paint that would hold up for at least a year would cost nearly $1,000.00 USD anyway. The cheaper pain would peel in 6 months. I was between a rock and hard place. I called Sadolin to beg for a discount but couldn't reach him in person. I was FRUSTRATED! Time was slipping by and the room was sitting.

I was nagging them about being careful the WHOLE time!
(poor guys)

I sat in the back to keep it from shifting the whole way. The
police even stopped us and asked Julius..."Why is a
muzungu riding in the back?" He let us go when I convinced him
it was MY choice! 

I asked God for a favor..it was months before my birthday, but I always have a habit of asking God for a gift for my birthday. Odd, I know...been doing it since I was a kid. It never fails. I was in the chapel on my knees and begged "GOD, PLEASE, I know it is a lot to ask. I know I am always asking for help and support. Could you please grant me this birthday wish. Could I please have the tile for my floor for my birthday. I am asking this NOT for me but for the kids. They need this tile, not paint. I want what they need, not something just to get by."

The welcoming committee 

Unloading the tiles

I even tried a Novena, did a 3 day fast and prayed my heart out. At the end of the Novena, I still hadn't heard anything (OK...I waited a day). I was antsy, not wanting to waste any more time. I was in Mass that morning, looked up and said, "OK GOD, I think 'no answer' IS my answer. If paint is what you want, I will do paint, regardless if I can get a discount or not. Today, first thing, I will go buy the expensive paint."

Thank goodness for strong Brothers
It took many of them to unload 

Brother John Paul 

I finished English class, called the Boda and ran out with my things. I stopped on the stairs and thought to myself...check your email before you go. I went back in, got my computer and did a quick check. I saw an email from Sara at CMMB. It was Feb 22cnd. My jaw dropped when I read it. She said,

Hi Carol – How much do you need for the floor? Maybe I can get a major gift officer here to pull a quick donation from someone. No promises but am happy to try (as well as are there other remaining costs?)

Brother Stenslous pretending
he hurt his back and neck from lifting

This one must have been really heavy to take 2!

My loot...sitting on the bathroom floor 

I about did a flip! What timing! I was within hours of wasting money on floor paint! Of course, I was very willing to wait. Soon after, the fund raising project was approved. Sara kept me updated with every increase in the donations. Fr Raymond said at least 4 Masses for the benefactors. I kept praying and hoping. Right before my trip in April, Sara emailed me that we hit the mark! I nearly cancelled my trip to Kenya to start on the project, but couldn't break my commitments. RATS! I had to be patient and wait.

I got home and hit the ground running, unfortunately, as a result, I ended up with a second bout of ear infection and bronchitis that laid me out for 4 days (the first was when I arrived in Kenya). Then there was the matter of transferring the money from my account to MOP. Then I had to wait until Brother Johnson could pick it up. I was pestering him daily though trying hard to be patient. FINALLY...I had the funds in hand but then had to await availability of the truck.

A job well done! 

HOW ABOUT THIS FOR SYNCHRONICITIES....the day that worked out to purchase and pick up the tile was May 14th....my birthday. HMMM. I don't think it hit me until I was in the truck driving to the tile store...I had asked for the tile for my birthday. God delivered it exactly on that day! I think He wanted me to know, He was ON IT! 

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO THANK ALL THE PEOPLE WHO DONATED AND CMMB FOR THIS!  the poorest of the poor abandoned and disabled children of Busega will now have the floor they need in order to learn to move and gain independence in their lives! They will regain their lives THANKS TO ALL OF YOU! 

MAY GOD RETURN YOUR GIFT 1,000 FOLD and MORE! 

PATRICIA COMES TO HELP! (CREATIVE KID IDEAS)

I am NOT a pediatric PT by any stretch of the imagination. I do the best I can with the problem solving skills I have, but I worry that I am missing HUGE issues that need to be solved for the disabled boys who are in my care.

Little Paul has flaccid quadriplegia Cerebral Palsy. He is actually 8 but has had stunted growth. He has virtually NO tone, cannot control his head, nor can he sit up or move on his own. He can move his arms but not with much control. He needs all his food mashed because he cannot chew and struggles to swallow. Paul's life has been spent primarily in the crib except for feeding when he is held in a reclined position to allow him to swallow. He is fully dependent on others for everything.

The amazing hand made knife

Cuts like a dream! 

He is such a sweet boy, always smiling and is quite handsome. Patricia had made a plaster seat for him and put in in a stroller to get him out of bed when she first started volunteering here (she spent 5-6 months before I arrived). Unfortunately, without follow through and training, Paul was back to the bed.
The plaster cast no longer fit him by the time I arrived and funds are still being requested for a special wheelchair. This is a loooong process.

I had been seeing him for sitting balance. It took all of my arms and legs to hold him because though he had no tone his arms and legs would flail around and he would have sudden strong extension spasticity (which is why he could not be positioned in a chair with pillows...he would slide right out without warning). He was certainly a challenge. Over time, he started getting stronger and his tone started to reduce enough to allow me to sit him next to me on a bed with full support. Still no head control.

Paul developed an upper respiratory infection keeping him in bed for several days. He has NO FAT or muscle and ended up with a sacral and lower spine bed sore. Without intervention, this would progress rapidly. I went out to the foam store, bargained for foam. I realized I had no way to cut it so I asked the guy where he got his long knife. Turns out he makes it out of a long piece of metal...It looked like a long saw. I didn't think it would work but WOW! It works like a dream!

I cut blocks of foam and was able to position this wiggle worm on his side and keep him there! I trained the matrons and they repositioned him every 2 hours. I asked that his protein intake increase (more beans). Paul is quite skinny, but this little guy eats a full plate of food for each meal! Douglass managed the rest. We were able to get his skin healed in 5 days from 3 stage II decubs. It worked!

Paul even liked it! 

Despite this, I felt so bad for Paul that I had focused on all the other kids. I wanted to get him up but a special wheelchair (unless I purchased one) was out of the question any time soon. I had Sister Anna get me some large tubs for bathing Paul and another boy since it was hard to do in the big shower with no support. She got a large round tub. I didn't think it would work for bathing due to his extension tone but was doing a "dry run" and trying to figure out if I could get him safely stable for bathing with blankets.

He was soo tucked in with wedges and blankets, there would be no way to bathe him...BUT as I stood there looking at him, I realized that he was smiling, the other kids were coming up to the tub to interact with him, rock the tub making him laugh. HMMM...maybe, just maybe.....Turns out this is our new temporary wheelchair! It worked! I had tried several strollers and chairs before which did not work at all. This worked beautiful.

Paul with his crowd

We started Paul sitting outside with the other kids...he laughed and smiled and even cried when we tried to put him back to bed. Granted, his head is an issue and tends to flop around too much, BUT he loves it and he is getting stronger...he is even making noises!

Fred with Paul 

I invited Patricia to come to help me figure out what I am missing and train me in how to manage some of the kids. She had been busy up until now, so one Saturday she showed up with yogurt in hand as a surprise for the kids. They all screamed and ran to her, remembering her from before! It was a fun reunion. She taught me a great deal, gave me hints and recommendations for the kids. I don't know what I would do without her help! It was a great day and the kids are still talking about her. I am not surprised, she has a HUGE heart!

Patricia treating Paul to strawberry yogurt! YUM!

Abed with a yogurt mustache

THANK YOU PATRICIA! 

ANY PEDIATRIC PT or OT INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING, WE CAN USE YOUR HELP! PAYMENT WILL BE IN MORE HUGS AND LOVE THAN YOU CAN HOLD! 

ADDICTED TO GIVING!

The life of an orphan in an orphanage can be rather boring. Being stuck in one place other than school can be really hard despite having all your basic needs met. Father Raymond understands this and wants to create a HOME for them. This is why the kids look forward to his outings to the beach. This year, he also started a football (soccer) league.

It was HUGE. There were 8 teams (1/2 were older boys and the other 1/2 were younger ones). They had matches daily throughout the 3 weeks off. It was fun to watch! There was a worker and a brother assigned as coaches. Douglass was coach for Brian's team "Arsenal" who made it to the championship.

I thought back on the times that were the most fun for me as a kid. One of those was watching movies and having popcorn and soda. I made it a point to figure out how to manifest this. I needed a projector anyway for English class (we are on public speaking now) and thought this would be a great time to get one to show movies for the kids. Robin helped me price shop and find a good one and several Disney Pixar movies as well!

Finding a tailor in the curtain shop was a jackpot! 

AND a curtain rod long enough! 

We got back and set up a movie on the back wall of the chapel. It was a bit hard to see with the yellow green wall paint and the light from the windows, so...back downtown to figure out a screen. Material can be rather expensive despite bargaining. We happened upon a curtain store and found we could by any length....we found a heavy white curtain which was perfect. There was a tailor sitting there in the store with his singer sewing machine...he hemmed it for me.

First attempt at set up (Bro Ciprion to the L supervising) 

captive audience 

Not so clear picture (hmmm...needs to be fixed) 

I was wondering about hanging it when I saw the curtain rods (uncut) stored in the rafters...WALA! The tailor sewed a loop at the top and off we went! Turns out there were nails already in the walls, so the new screen hung perfect!!!!

We DID IT! (Robin and I)

The GOODIES! 

I then managed to find a popcorn man nearby Busega, placed an order for 200 bags of popcorn, paid him and went off to buy soda for 200 kids (the more expensive of the 2). We managed that, got Douglass's computer set up with badly dubbed versions of movies and the kids had a REAL NIGHT AT THE MOVIES!!!

MUCH BETTER PICTURE! 

passing out popcorn

Fred happy with his popcorn! 

the little ones sat up front

sodas all around! 

PERFECT!

It was PERFECT! I could not have done this without Douglass who stayed late with me and helped me carry all the disabled boys up to the chapel. Everyone was able to enjoy! I felt like Santa...I wish everyone could feel how wonderful it is to do simple fun things for children such as these...you would become quickly addicted to giving!!!

DOUGLASS, THE MO's BIRTHDAY!

We had to come up with something for Douglass' birthday as soon as I returned. The kids were excited about helping, so we created a treasure hunt around Busega as a surprise. I put the kids in charge of decorating his office while I ran out to get cake and some other things.

Giving last minute instructions to the kids before leaving to
get the cake (were they listening?) 

Robin, my indispensable "personal assistant"/
boda driver with Oscar

I put Brian in charge of the camera while I was away. It is always interesting to see what shows up on a camera when left in the hands of a group of 10-14 yr olds. Robin, my "personal assistant" helped keep the kids in check while I ran around planting the clues and surprises. I thought you'd enjoy seeing what views I got when I downloaded the pictures....made me chuckle. 

I see you!

Oscar with my helmet (with broken visor)

Sibiri

Brian and Sibiri

WOuld have been funny if it was clear!

All the decorations were at "kid height" 

Gotta have the self portrait
Brian in full form

All worked out lovely and I think Douglass had a good time, though he missed lunch as he was bent on finding all the 10 hidden clues (he had to figure out the riddle to find the next clue). He managed to do so with more ease than I had hoped, but we all had fun!

SURPRISE!

He was happy (despite finding out his team
in the Busega league lost that day)

Sibiri's artwork

The cake was a fiasco but we managed to
get it there hand carried on the back of a
boda CAREFULLY

Lighting the required fireworks!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DOUGLASS!